Self-loading excavator



C. BARTSCH SELF-LOADING EXCAVATOR Feb. 26, 1952 2 SI-IEETS-S'n'EET l Filed NOV. 10, 1949 cagiva/us A/Prscf/ MMM/@Mm Feb. 26, 1952 c. BARTscl-l 2,587,092

SELF-'LOADING EXCAVATOR Filed Nov. 10, 1949 2 sHEETssHEET 2 FIG. 3.

. 75 CORNELIUS BAR TSCH i M 70 ""`A S -Mmfmmfwmm K l @muy Patented Feb. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to an excavating or scraping machine.

An important object of my invention is to provide an excavating or scraping machine which may be drawn along by a tractor or the like,

4and including a rotary scraping element driven by the power take-off shaft of the tractor.

A further object is to provide a scraping machine of the above-mentioned character including a body or bucket which will be automatically loadedas the machine travels forwardly.

A further object is to provide a scraping machine having means operated by the hydraulic system of the tractor for dumping or discharging the load when the body of the scraper is filled.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above-mentioned character which is highly simplified, compact, sturdy and relatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of my inventio will be apparent during the course of the following description.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the bottom of the machine, parts in section and parts broken away;

, Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a. scraper cylinder removed taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, where, for the purpose of illus'- tration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I designates the rear end portion of a conventional tractor, including traction wheels I I, and having the usual drawbar I2. The tractor is equipped with thev usual'rotary power take-off shaft I3, and includes pipes or conduits I4 forming a, part of the usual hydraulic Asystem of the tractor.

The scraping machine embodying the invention to be drawn at the rear of the tractor comprises a pair of ground engaging wheels I supporting a horizontal frame including side rails I6 which extend longitudinally and generallyhorizontally inwardly of the wheels I5. The side rails I6 may be rigidly connected at their forward ends by a forward, transverse, horizontal rail I1 rigidly secured thereto by welding or the like. vRigidly section 40 through a universal joint 46.

mounted upon the side rails I6 and forward rail I1 of the frame is a rectangular body or scraper bucket I3, open at its top and rear end, and including vertical sides I9 and a forward, vertical end 26. The side rails l5 extend longitudinally rearwardly of the open rear'end of the body I8, as shown. l

Rigidly secured to the lower, forward corners of the body I8 by welding or the like are forwardly projecting brackets` 2l pivotally connected, as at 22, with the rear ends of forwardly converging, horizontal arms 23 of a tongue 24. The forward ends of the arms 2S are provided with longitudinal, short extensions 25 engaging between knuckles 26 of a link 21. The extensions 25 are pivotally connected with the knuckles 26, as shown at 28, and the forward end of the link 21 is pivotally connected with the rear end of the drawbar I2, as at 28. A vertical plate 29 is pivotally mounted upon the pin 28 between the extensions 2'5, andan upwardly inclined plunger rod 30 of a hydraulic cylinder 3i has its lower end pivotally connected with the plate 29, as shown at 32. The top end of the cylinder 3| is provided with an apertured lug 33 pivotally connected, as at 34, with a mounting bracket or bearing 35, rigidly mounted upon the forward end 2! of the body I8 adjacent the top of the body and at the transverse center thereof. Flexible hydraulic lines 36 lead from a hydraulic gland 31 of the tractor to the inlet and exhaust'ttings of the cylinder 3|.

An inclined, longitudinally extending drive shaft 38 is provided., and formed in two telescoping sections 39 and 40. The forward drive shaft section 39 is connected with the power take-off shaft I3 of the tractor through a universal joint 4I. A horizontal, longitudinally extending shaft 42 is arranged adjacent andv above one side I9 of the body I8, and journaled in forward and rear bearings 43 and 44, in turn rigidly mounted upon a top longitudinal rail or bar 45 secured to the top of the adjacentside I9. The forward end of the shaft 42 is'operatively connected with the shaft Rearwardly ofthe bearing 44, the lshaft 42 carries a bevel gear 41, meshing with a bevel gear 48 mounted upon a transverse horizontal shaft 4S for rotation therewith. The shaft 49 is journaled near its opposite ends in bearings 53, rigidly mounted upon the rear ends of the bars or rails 45 vwhich project rearwardly longitudinally of the rearend of the body I5, as shown, The shaft' 49' is arranged at the same elevation as the shaft 42. outwardly of the'bevel gear 48, and outwardlyof thebearing 50,.theshaft49 has mounted upon it for rotation therewith a sprocket wheel i having trained over it a generally vertically arranged sprocket chain 52 which extends downwardly for engagement upon a lower sprocket Wheel 53 mounted upon a lower, transverse, horizontal, rotatable shaft 54 for rotation therewith. The shaft 54 is spaced rearwardly of the rear end of the body i8, and journaled near its opposite ends in bearings 55 rigidly mounted upon the rear ends of the side rails I6, as shown. The shaft 54 is, therefore, arranged substantially adjacent the bottom of the body i8.

Mounted upon the shaft 54 between the bearings 55 for rotation with it is a cylindrical scraper drum 56 having a plurality of radially arranged, at scraper blades 57, arranged in longitudinally spaced and staggered relation, as shown, so that when the drum 55 rotates, the blades 51 will scrape the ground for substantially the entire length of the drum 5E, Figure 6.

Mounted upon the sides i9 near and below the tops of the same are longitudinally extending bars or arms 55 which project rearwardly longitudinally of the rear open end of the body i8. Rigidly mounted upon the rear ends of the arms 53 are bearings 59 within which is journaled a transverse, rotatable shaft 68, having a relatively small sprocket wheel Bl mounted thereon for rotation therewith and adapted to engage the sprocket chain 52 to be driven thereby. the shaft for rotation therewith, and arranged between the arms 58, is a large cylinder or drum 62, provided with a plurality of radially extending lugs or pins E3. The arrangement is such that the cylinder or drum 62 is driven simul- :i

taneously with the drum 56 and in the same direction, both elements being driven clockwise, as shown in Figure 3.

Means are provided for dumping the contents of the body i8 after the same becomes filled. Such means comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders 64 arranged adjacent the outer faces of the sides i9 and pivotally connected at their rear ends, as shown at Eis, to such sides. The cylinders 655 may pivot vertically about their pivots 55, and are provided with forwardly extending piston rods S6, in turn pivotally connected at their forward ends 6l Awith longitudinally shift* able links or bars 68, which lie adjacent the outer sides of the sides i9. The bars 68 are pivotally connected at longitudinally spaced intervals with Ithe tops of side, upstanding extensions B9 of transversely extending U-shaped rods 10.' The rods 'Hl lie adjacent the bottom edges of the sides I9 of the body, and the rods extend for substantially the entire width of the body I 8, the upstanding extensions 65 being disposed adjacent 'the outer faces of the sides lill. Longitudinally spaced, transverse, vertical plates 'Il extend between the sides I9 adjacent the lower edges thereof, and are rigidly secured at their opposite ends by welding or the like to the sides I9. The plates 'il are disposed adjacent the transverse rods 70, and directly above the same, Figure 3. The plates Il are provided on one side, and at spaced intervals with small spacer plates or blocks I2 rigidly secured thereto by welding or the like. U-shaped straps or brackets 'i3 are secured to the bottoms of the plates 'Il oy bolts 'I4 or the like. The U-shaped straps 'i3 project below the bottoms of the plates 7l and receive therein the transverse, U-shaped rods lil, for rocking or pivoted movement. The rods I0 have separate, flat, lhorizontal bottom plates or slats 'I5 rigidly secured to them by welding or the like. and extend- Mounted upon ing for substantially the entire length of the rods T0. The opposite ends of the plates or slats 'I5 are disposed close to the inner faces of the sides I9, Figure 4. The plates 15 are provided at spaced intervals with notches '18, .providing clearance for the plates 'i5 to swing vertically about the U-shaped straps '13, Figure 5. When the plates 15 are arranged in their elevated or horizontal positions, Figure 3, they constitute a substantially continuous, flat, horizontal bottom for the body i8. The trailing edge of each plate 15 substantially contacts the forward side of the adjacent rod 10, as shown. The arrangement is such that the plates 'l5 swing vertically in unison when the bars 68 are shifted longitudinally by Ithe plunger rods 66. Flexible hydraulic conduits 'l1 and 'I8 are connected with the inlet and exhaust ttings of the hydraulic cylinders Ell, and extend forwardly for connection with the gland 3l of the hydraulic system of the tractor.

' The operation of the scraper is as follows:

With the device connected at the rear of a tractor, as shown and described, rotation may be imparted to the power take-od shaft i3 in the usual manner. This will cause the telescoping shaft 38 to rotate, driving the shaft d2, shaft 49 and sprocket chain 52. This will cause the cylinders 56 and 62 to rotate clockwise, as shown in Figure 3.

Pressure is introduced into the hydraulic cylinder 3|, which causes its plunger rod 30 to eX- tend for tilting the forward end of the body I8 upwardly to the inclined ,position shown in Figures l and 3. This brings the blades 51 of the cylinder 56 into Contact with the ground. As the tractor travels forwardly, the blades 5T will scrape or scoop up the dirt and propel the same forwardly through the open rear end of the body i8 and upon the bottom of such body. At this time, pressure is also applied within the cylinders 64, and the piston rods B6 thereof are in their extended positions, Figure 3, and the plates l5 forming the bottom of the body i8 are maintained elevated or closed. The scraping operation may thus continue until the body i8 i-s substantially filled with dirt or the like.

When the body i8 is iilled, and it is desired to dump the same, the lpressure within the cylinder 3i may be exhausted, and the forward end of the body I8 tilted downwardly to a substantially horizontal position. The telescoping shaft 33 permits this vertical swinging movement of the body i8. When the forward end of the body has been tilted downwardly, the scraping cylinder 56 will be elevated and the blades 57 thereof will move out of engagement with the ground. In order to dump the contents of the body i8, it is merely necessary to exhaust the pressure from the hydraulic cylinders 64, and the weight of the contents of the body upon the individual plates or slats 75 will swing them downwardly to release or dump the dirt below the body iS. Obviously, when the plates l5 swing downwardly, the -U-shaped rods 1B turn with them and the bars ror rods 68 are shifted longitudinally rearwardly, forcing the plunger rods S6 into the cylinders 64.,

As soon as pressure is again applied within the cylinders 64, the plunger rods 66 will return to their extended positions for closing the plates l5 of the bottom of the body. Pressure may simultaneously be again applied within the cylinder 3l, and the forward end of the body I8 will tilt upwardly, the cylinder 56 being again lowered into its scraping or operative position, Figure 1.

The scraping machine is highly simplified. compact,.easy to operate and extremely strong and durable. It may be used with various makes of conventional tractors equipped with power take-off shafts and hydraulic systems. While I have shown and described the cylinder 62, which serves to propel any dirt into the housing I8 which may be tossed too high by the scraper cylinder 56, I may omit the cylinder 62 in certain cases. Also, I contemplate omitting one of the hydraulic cylinders 6ft which operate the plates l5. While I have shown the scraping machine as embodying a two-wheeled frame or body, I also contemplate building the same in larger models, equipped with four wheels and a self-contained power plant for propelling the machine.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A scraping machine for use with a tractor having a power take-off shaft and drawbar and equipped with a hydraulic system, said machine comprising a wheeled container having its top and rear end open, a pulling tongue for the forward end of the wheeled container and pivotally connected with the drawbar of the tractor so that the container may swing vertically about its wheels, a transverse rotary scraper cylinder rotatably mounted upon the rear end of the container adjacent the bottom of the container and having radial blades which engage the ground to scrape the same, the blades propelling the being operatively connected with the scraper cyl- -f inder to turn it, a telescoping shaft connected with the forward end 0f said longitudinal shaft and with the power take-off shaft of the tractor, a hydraulic cylinder connected with the forward end of the container near the top of the container and connected with said pulling tongue. the hydraulic cylinder being connected with the hydraulic system of the tractor and serving when actuated to tilt the container about its wheels to raise and lower the rotary scraper cylinder, and means including a vertically swingable plate connected with the container near its bottom to dump the contents thereof upon the ground.

2. A scraper machine for use with a tractor having a power take off shaft and drawbar and equipped with a hydraulic system, said machine comprising a wheeled container having its top and rear end open, a pulling tongue for the forward end of the wheeled container and pivotally connected with the drawbar of the tractor so that the container may swing vertically about its wheels, a transverse rotary scraper cylinder rotatably mounted upon the rear end of the container adjacent the bottom of the container and having radial blades which engage the ground to scrape the same, the blades propelling the scraped material into the rear end of the container, a hydraulic cylinder having one end connected to said pulling tongue and having the other end connected to the forward end of said container adjacent the top thereof, said cylinder being connected with the hydraulic system of the tractor and serving when actuated to tilt said container about its wheels to raise and lower the rotary scraper, means operatively connecting the power take off shaft of the tractor to said scraper cylinuer for effecting the rotary movement of the latter, and means including a vertically swingable plate connected with the container adjacent its bottom to dump the contents thereof upon the ground.

3, A scraping machine for use with a tractor having a power take off shaft and drawbar and equipped with a hydraulic system, said machine comprising a wheeled container having its top and rear end open, a pulling tongue for the forward end of the wheeled container and pivotally connected with the drawbar of the tractor so that the container may swing vertically about its wheels, a transverse rotary scraper cylinder rotatably mounted upon the rear end of the container adjacent the bottom of the container and having radial blades which engage the ground to scrape the same, the blades propelling the scraped material into the rear end of the container, a hydraulic cylinder having one end connected to said pulling tongue and having the other end 'connected to the forward end of said container adjacent the top thereof, said cylinder being connected with the hydraulic system of the tractor and serving when actuated to tilt said container about its wheels to raise and lower the rotary scraper, a telescoping shaft having one end connected to the power take oi shaft of the tractor and having the other end operatively connected to said rotary scraper for effecting the rotary movement of the latter, and means including a vertically swingable plate connected with the container adjacent its bottom to dump the contents thereof upon the ground.

CORNELIUS BARTSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Oct. 27. 1921 

